Raquel Pennington all the time had a sense her first title protection would come towards Julianna Peña whether or not she deserved it or not.
Absent for over two years, the previous UFC bantamweight champion hasn’t been seen since she misplaced a one-sided choice to Amanda Nunes again in 2022. Whereas she was anticipated to face Nunes in a trilogy after which struggle for the vacant title after “The Lioness” retired, Peña handled accidents that repeatedly stored her sidelined whereas the remainder of the division moved on with out her.
Pennington understands the argument towards Peña getting a title shot however in actuality, that is the struggle she needed earlier than she ever grew to become champion.
“In my thoughts, I knew simply because Julianna had one of many largest upsets in UFC girls’s bantamweight historical past beating Amanda, I knew that it was going to return right down to Julianna,” Pennington informed MMA Preventing earlier than UFC 307. “So it’s like actually, I’m excited for this struggle. I’m excited for my very own private causes. On paper, does it make sense? No, I’m proper there with you, I don’t agree with it.
“Once they referred to as [to offer me the fight for the vacant title] they usually’re like, ‘Hey, Julianna’s injured, all these items, it’s going to be Mayra [Bueno Silva],’ it was identical to I felt disappointment. I used to be disillusioned. Simply given the way in which every part occurs for a motive it performs out and that’s not taking something away from Mayra. I informed her after the struggle and we talked, she’s going to do some nice issues, she has to proceed to push however she’s very inexperienced nonetheless. She’s younger and really inexperienced with all of it. With this one, I feel a part of it makes it simpler to place the world title behind at the back of my thoughts with all of it. It’s like that is taking me again to The Final Fighter days. Let’s settle this as soon as and for all.”
Over 11 years in the past, Pennington and Peña have been each members of Crew Miesha Tate throughout The Final Fighter 18. After making it into the home, Pennington and Peña have been early favorites to probably meet within the finals, however that’s not how issues performed out.
Peña ended up because the TUF 18 champion whereas Pennington was eradicated by Jessica Rakoczy within the semifinals after struggling a hand harm throughout a win over Jessamyn Duke within the opening spherical. Whereas she’s not precisely holding onto a grudge all these years later, Pennington admits that she didn’t get together with Peña and that’s seemingly put them at odds ever since.
“After we received in there, all people was bullying Julianna,” Pennington defined. “Like I actually felt dangerous for her. It was identical to issues play out, they choose the groups, we’re roommates and now we’re teammates.
“For me, I personally tried to take her below my wing. No one needed something to do along with her, she was lonely and it was like rattling, this present is simply beginning. We’re going to be in right here for seven weeks. I attempted. Evidently, I realized actually fast our personalities are very completely different. It’s such as you follow your facet and I’m going to stay to my facet. There was little issues they only added up. Over time dwelling with any individual and seeing the completely different character sorts, she simply received below my pores and skin. Simply her character. I’m not going to take a seat right here and bash her and minimize her down as a result of there’s a lot extra to all of us as folks however she’s simply not any individual that I need round me.”
It seems Pennington may not be the one one who Peña rubs the fallacious approach.
When she first received the decision to supply her the struggle, Pennington claims folks contained in the UFC informed her a number of the motivation behind this matchmaking comes right down to relishing in Peña’s potential demise.
“She has a freaking Grasp’s diploma in yapology,” Pennington mentioned. “She talks and he or she retains herself related that approach. On the finish of the day, I don’t perceive how this lady can keep injured after which she comes again and impulsively, she’s getting a giant struggle after which she’s injured and he or she comes again and he or she’s getting one thing else. Who’s managing you? What are you doing right here? No matter you’re doing, nice, it’s working for you. Congratulations. You’ve had no matter for your self nevertheless it doesn’t make sense to me.
“On the finish of the day, UFC’s going to do what UFC does. I gained’t say a reputation however some folks in UFC have mentioned, ‘All people loves watching Julianna get her ass beat for 5 rounds so why not?’”
The dangerous blood between the fighters makes for emotionally charged promotion main as much as the co-main occasion, however Pennington is simply glad to lastly have the prospect to conquer Peña from her life as soon as and for all.
Courting again to The Final Fighter all the way in which to her title struggle win again in January, Pennington has heard a lot from Peña and he or she anxiously awaits the chance to close her up.
“This isn’t a factor the place we’re going to have this ongoing battle,” Pennington mentioned. “I’m going to go on the market, I’m going to beat your ass. I’m very assured the fighter that I’m, simply all over the place I’m at in life at this level being 36 years previous. My thoughts has simply shifted a lot. I’ve unlocked a special a part of me and that’s what I used to be excited for my world title struggle. I’ve but to impress myself and now that camp, I impressed myself. This camp, I simply blew myself out of the water. I’ve my very own expectations. I’m excited.
“I simply wish to go on the market and I really feel with the feelings that I’ve in the direction of Julianna, the historical past that Julianna and I’ve, it’s simply going to convey out the perfect in me and that’s my stamp. Like I’m achieved. 11 years in the past, Final Fighter, the query of every part, the animosity I had in the direction of you, that annoyance I had in the direction of you, we’re achieved. It’s mentioned and achieved. We’ll shake palms and that’s what it’s or I’ll shake palms.”
